Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Knut Goes Hollywood

World's most famous polar bear cub to star in animated movie

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 31, 2007 10:34 AM CST

(Newser) – The Berlin Zoo is about to make even more money off Knut, the once-adorable and now rather large polar bear cub raised by keepers from infancy after his mother rejected him. Hollywood is hoping to make an animated movie about Knut and his keeper Thomas Dörflein, and is ready to dole out $5 million (3.5 million euros) for the rights, Der Spiegel reports.

The zoo seems poised to accept, assuming the on-screen Knut is suitably friendly. The cub’s unique closeness with humans has caused some controversy, but fears that the now-grown Knut would harm Dörflein have so far proven unfounded, and the two still play together. The film will also touch on the global warming threatening Knut’s arctic brethren.

A combo of two photos showing, left, the Polar bear Knut, at his first public appearance on March 23, 2007, and right, his first birthday in the Berlin Zoo, Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2007. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
A combo of two photos showing, left, the Polar bear Knut, at his first public appearance on March 23, 2007, and right, his first birthday in the Berlin Zoo, Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2007. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)   (Associated Press)
Polar bear Knut eats a salad leaf from his birthday cake on the occasion of his first birthday in the Berlin zoo on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2007. (AP Photo/Miguel Villagran)
Polar bear Knut eats a salad leaf from his birthday cake on the occasion of his first birthday in the Berlin zoo on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2007. (AP Photo/Miguel Villagran)   (Associated Press)
U.S. heiress Paris Hilton holds toy polar bear Knut, named after the polar bear in Berlin Zoo, during a promotional event for a Prosecco company at a department store in Berlin on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2007. (AP Photo/Miguel Villagran)
U.S. heiress Paris Hilton holds toy polar bear Knut, named after the polar bear in Berlin Zoo, during a promotional event for a Prosecco company at a department store in Berlin on Wednesday, Dec. 12,...   (Associated Press)
The Polar bear baby Knut jumps in to the water at his enclosure...
The Polar bear baby Knut jumps in to the water at his enclosure...   (Getty Images (by Event))
GERMANY-ANIMALS-POLAR BEAR-KNUT
GERMANY-ANIMALS-POLAR BEAR-KNUT   (Getty Images (by Event))
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Knut Song   (Sniperkilla1991 (YouTube))

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.
 

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Timelines   |   POPSUGAR Tech   |   Business Insider   |   HuffPost Entertainment   |   NewsOne